Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Microsoft Dodges|Wage Class Action

SAN JOSE, Calif. (CN) - A class of managers who accused Microsoft of entering into no-poaching agreements waited too long to file suit, a federal judge found in a case related to other high-profile lawsuits against major tech companies.

Deserae Ryan and Trent Sau claimed last year that the tech giant conspired with other technology companies to suppress wages and restrict competition.

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh agreed with Microsoft that the claims are subject to a four-year statute of limitations under federal and state antitrust laws. Since the alleged injuries started in 2007, the plaintiffs waited too long to file suit and also Koh rejected arguments that the claims fell within narrow exceptions to the statute.

The judge gave permission to amend allegations that Microsoft continued to violate the plaintiffs' rights or hid its involvement in the conspiracy which would - if found to be true - would stop the statute of limitations clock.

Earlier this week Koh dismissed a suit accusing Disney, Pixar and other animation studios of a similar conspiracy.

That ruling came after the judge gave preliminary approval to a $415 million settlement of conspiracy claims against Apple, Google, Intel and Adobe. A final approval hearing for the settlement will be held on July 9 in San Jose.

Yet another similar suit against Oracle is still active.

The class in the Microsoft case is represented by Jeffrey Hogue with Hogue Belong in San Diego.

Representing Microsoft is Robert Maguire from Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle.

Neither side replied immediately to a request for comment from Courthouse News.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...